Content of the Czech Life and Institutions Exam
A condition for passing the Czech Life and Institutions Exam is achieving the B1 language proficiency level (independent language user) according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The Czech Life and Institutions Exam tests knowledge in the following fields: Life and Institutions, Basic Geographical Information about the Czech Republic, and Basic Historical and Cultural Information about the Czech Republic. The scope of knowledge of Czech life and institutions corresponds to the scope of knowledge attained in primary education according to the Framework Educational Programme for Elementary Education, but extended to include knowledge necessary for the day-to-day life of adults. More details about the 30 topics of the Czech Life and Institutions Exam is part of the Specifications. One test question is devoted to each topic. The test questions for the Czech Life and Institutions Exam are chosen only from the Test Question Database. Candidates thus have the chance to review all 300 test questions and the answers to them prior to taking the exam. The test questions may be updated to take into account changes in facts. A specific example of the Czech Life and Institutions Exam is the interactive sample exam.
Form of the Czech Life and Institutions Exam
The Czech Life and Institutions Exam is in written form. Written form means a test that contains a total of 30 test questions from the following fields:
- Life and institutions: 16 test questions
- Basic geographical information about the Czech Republic: 7 test questions
- Basic historical and cultural information about the Czech Republic: 7 test questions
Each test question has 4 alternative answers: 1 answer is always the correct one; the remaining three are always incorrect. At the Czech Life and Institutions Exam, candidates will receive a printed exam paper and an answer sheet. Candidates are to write their answers in the answer sheet. The exam takes 30 minutes. There is no break scheduled during the Czech Life and Institutions Exam.
General Schedule on the day of the exam
8:30 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. Registration 1
- Registration 1 is intended for candidates who are taking the entire exam or just the Czech Life and Institutions Exam.
10:00 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. Czech Life and Institutions Exam – written test
- The written test comprises 30 questions and takes 30 minutes.
- Approximately 10 minutes of the exam are devoted to preliminary instructions.
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Registration 2
- Registration 2 is intended for candidates who are taking the Czech Language Exam only.
11:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. Czech Language Exam – written part:
- Reading comprehension (50 minutes)
- Listening comprehension (30-35 minutes)
- Writing (60 minutes)
- Approximately 5-10 minutes of each part of the exam are devoted to preliminary instructions.
- A 15-minute break follows each sub-test.
2:40 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Czech Language Exam – oral part:
- During the oral part of the exam (speaking), candidates are tested in groups of two (15–18 minutes for the two candidates). Lots are drawn to determine the order of the candidates and the time of the oral exam.
Assessment of the Czech Life and Institutions Exam
During the Czech Life and Institutions Exam, candidates will receive one point for each correct answer. Candidates can receive a maximum of 30 points. Candidates pass the exam if they obtain at least 60% of the maximum number of points. Thus, candidates have to answer at least 18 questions correctly. If a candidate does not obtain 60% on the exam, he or she has not passed the exam and can sign up to retake the exam at the next exam date. There is no limit to the number of times that the exam can be retaken.
Information about exam results will not be provided by telephone or e-mail. Candidates will be able to view their results 30 days after the exam at this address: http://ujop.cuni.cz/obcanstvi/vysledky. ILCS CU issues certificates to successful candidates within 7 weeks of the exam. It is not possible to request that the exam be marked earlier and/or that the certificate be issued earlier. There is no time limit on the validity of the certificate. Certificates will be sent by post. To ensure delivery of your certificate, please check that the data provided in the application, including your name and address, are correct.
Signing up for the Czech Life and Institutions Exam
A candidate may sign up for the Czech Life and Institutions Exam electronically using the on-line application at the ILPS CU website. You have to register for the exam at least 14 days prior to the exam date.
Czech Life and Institutions Exam dates and venues
The dates when the Czech Life and Institutions Exam will be held are listed here; the venues where the Czech Life and Institutions Exam will be held are listed here. Please select the exam date and venue in the application form. If the date in the application at the address http://ujop.cuni.cz/obcanstvi is not displayed, there are no more places available and it is no longer possible to sign up for the exam at the exam centre in question. A place may become available if a candidate cancels.
Czech Life and Institutions Exam fee
A fee is charged for taking the Czech Life and Institutions Exam. The fee is CZK 2 000. The invoicing details for payment of the exam fee will be sent to you by e-mail after you have submitted the on-line application form. The exam fee must be paid no later than 7 days after sending/submitting the exam application form. Proof of payment of the exam fee must be brought with you on the day of the exam (a printout of the on-line banking confirmation or bank account statement is sufficient).
Who does not have to take the Czech Life and Institutions Exam
Pursuant to Section 14(5) of the Czech Citizenship Act, the Czech Life and Institutions Exam need not be taken by the following individuals:
- An applicant who documents that he or she has attended three years of basic, secondary or post-secondary school where classes were taught in Czech
- An applicant who on the date of submission of the Czech citizenship application was less than 15 years old or more than 65 years old
- An applicant with a physical or mental handicap that prevents him or her from learning Czech.
Recognition of documents is in the remit of the Ministry of the Interior. Documents for assessment are accepted by the Regional Authorities. ILPS CU does not assess these documents or decide on whether they should be recognised.
The Ministry of the Interior may, based on Section 15(3) of the Czech Citizenship Act, exempt Czech citizenship applicants from the obligation to demonstrate knowledge of the Czech language and the obligation to demonstrate knowledge of Czech life and institutions for reasons worthy of special consideration. The exemption request is submitted along with the Czech citizenship application, and such request has to contain an explanation of the specific reasons worthy of special consideration based on which the exemption request is filed.